"That was great. It means a lot," Kovalchuk said during a press conference at the Prudential Center Friday morning.

But will it help the Devils keep the high-scoring left winger after this season? Kovalchuk is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, so he could be a rental for the Devils.

"You never know how things go," Kovalchuk said. "We'll see how things go. I'm just going to focus on the game. My agent and Lou now, they;re going to talk."

It won't be easy for the Devils, even if Kovalchuk helps them win a Stanley Cup. He turned down a 12-year, $101 million offer to stay in Atlanta.

Kovalchuk said he didn't mind that Atlanta GM Don Waddell made their contract negotiations public, but he praised the Devils.

"I'm very excited.This is the first time in my career I got a chance to play for a first class organization that's won three Stanley Cups," Kovalchuk said. "You just look around the room with guys like Martin Brodeur, legends in this game."

There was never any doubt that the Thrashers would trade him, but the timing could him a bit by surprise.

"I knew I was going to get dealt two days ago because Donnie told me that. But I didn't know where and when," said Kovalchuk, who accompanied the Thrashers to Washington for their Friday night game against the Capitals.

"I asked him (Waddell) if I was going to play in Washington and he said yes. So I didn't bring any stuff with me. I'll probably have to go back for a day and get something because we have to wear ties here and I don't have any with me."

Indeed, he wore a gray suit and open-neck dress shirt underneath.

Kovalchuk, who has 31 goals in 49 games this season, shrugged off the fact that Waddell publicized the contract negotiations. Butr he was happy when he found out he would be coming to New Jersey.

"That's okay. That's business. I have no problem with that," he said.

"I was excited. If things didn't work out with my old team I had to turn the page and go from there. My family all supports me real well. My wife is expecting but she said, 'It's a great opportunity for you to win the Cup.' That's why I'm here."

He does not anticipate a problem fitting in with his new teammates or the Devils' system.

"There are a lot of great players on the team. Especially it's a great system here. I just talked to the coaches and they know what they're doing and that's exciting," he said. "So I'm really looking forward to tonight's game and the opportunity to do some damage in the playoffs."

How does this guy fit into the Devils' system? Certainly he will have to change.

"Just one thing. Only one thing," coach Jacques Lemaire said. "When he gets in our end he will have to stop. The rest he can do what he wants."

Kovalchuk seemed excited about having Brodeur as a teammate and not a foe.

"It's great. I tried to score against him today. He didn't give me any confidence," he said.

In a way, he was sorry to leave Atlanta.

"I appreciate everything they did for me because I was there from day one in the NHL," he reflected. "To me it's still going to be my second home. My family is there. One of my kids was born there so that city means a lot to me."

What can Devils fans expect from him?

"I just try to play my game," Kovalchuk said. "I try to step on the ice and play my hardest and try to help the team win."